Cabbie tried to hoodwink me, woman tells court

Quarrel over fare ends in arrest

A LOCAL taxi driver deliberately took a roundabout route to overcharge a customer, Newbury magistrates heard.

And when Tracey Lucy Purvis quarreled over the fare, she ended up in the dock on Thursday, September 3.

But Jennifer Riddell, prosecuting, disputed her version of events.

She said the 27-year-old ordered a Cabco cab to take her from the Starting Gate pub in Brummell Road, Newbury, to her home in Rotary Way, Thatcham.

Ms Riddell added: “She told the driver she would have to go into her flat to get money to pay him the £19.80. In his opinion she directed him down a dead end that was not near her home.

“The driver asked for a mobile phone as security but she didn’t have one and started to get funny with him. He said he was going to call the police.

"She then returned and said she had a card to make payment - but it wasn’t valid. She then said she wasn’t going to pay and the amount remains outstanding.”

After her arrest, Ms Purvis told police she had given the driver £10 which she said was the usual fare for the journey, magistrates were told.

Ms Purvis admitted dishonestly making off without payment on December 15 last year.

She also has previous convictions, the court heard.

Stephen Collins, defending, said his client believed the matter should have been resolved as a civil, rather than a criminal matter and added: “She has used this company many times before and since and this is the first time she has experienced difficulties.

"She knows the route and knows the fare which, she says, is always £10 or under.

“She believes the driver took a convoluted route to hoodwink her out of a few pounds and maintains to this day that she paid £10 which, she felt, was fair and reasonable.”

Magistrates did not punish Ms Purvis for the offence but instead made her subject to a six month conditional discharge.

In addition, they ordered her to pay £30 towards the costs plus a £20 victim surcharge.

Presiding magistrate Brenda Harding told her: “We accept the account you have given to us,” and subtracted £10 from the compensation bill, ordering Ms Purvis to repay just £9.80.